Staff should be properly trained and supervised, and have the chance to develop and improve their skills (outcome 14)

Meeting this standard

We checked that people who use this service

Are safe and their health and welfare needs are met by competent staff.

How this check was done

We looked at the personal care or treatment records of people who use the service, carried out a visit on 18 August 2014, observed how people were being cared for and talked with people who use the service. We talked with staff and reviewed information given to us by the provider.

Our judgement

People were cared for by staff who were supported to deliver care and treatment safely and to an appropriate standard.

Reasons for our judgement

It is a requirement of the General Dental Council (GDC) that all people registered with them complete a specified number of hours of Continuing Professional Development CPD, including training in medical emergencies, to maintain their registration. Training records showed that everyone working at the practice had taken part in basic life support. This training was organised on a regular basis by the provider and included role play and practise of simulated medical emergencies.

Staff had completed feedback for the provider in the form of a survey. They had been able to comment on the practice and their work. This meant the provider valued the members of the staff team and their opinions for the improvement of the practice.

Staff were able, from time to time, to obtain further relevant training. The practice had a training policy which gave staff detailed information about how the provider would support them to complete relevant training for their role. We spoke with the provider who was aware of the training that each member of staff had taken part in. The provider gave staff paid time to complete some of the training or study required as part of their continuing professional development.

The staff we spoke with told us they had been supported to access necessary training as well as specific training for their role. For example all staff had attended training in vulnerable adult and child safeguarding, infection control and medical emergencies and the receptionist had attended a receptionists’ study day.

We spoke with the dental nurse and receptionist who told us that all staff had taken part in an annual appraisal. We saw records of the appraisal meetings, a performance and development review. This had given staff the opportunity to discuss their job satisfaction and career development. The appraisal process enabled the practice to identify the skills available in the practice, where update training may be required and where skills may need to be developed.

One member of staff told us that they had discussed with the provider the possibility of gaining further qualifications in order to develop their career. They told us they would be supported by the provider to acquire skills which would also benefit the practice. The staff we spoke with said they were well supported by the provider and felt able to discuss any issues regarding their work or training. They were confident that any concerns would be acted on.

Inspection ratings

We rate most services according to how safe, effective, caring, responsive and well-led they are, using four levels:

Outstanding – the service is performing exceptionally well.

Good – the service is performing well and meeting our expectations.

Requires improvement – the service isn't performing as well as it should and we have told the service how it must improve.

Inadequate – the service is performing badly and we've taken enforcement action against the provider of the service.

No rating/under appeal/rating suspended – there are some services which we can’t rate, while some might be under appeal from the provider. Suspended ratings are being reviewed by us and will be published soon.

Ticks and crosses

We don't rate every type of service. For services we haven't rated we use ticks and crosses to show whether we've asked them to take further action or taken enforcement action against them.

There's no need for the service to take further action. If this service has not had a CQC inspection since it registered with us, our judgement may be based on our assessment of declarations and evidence supplied by the service.

The service must make improvements.

At least one standard in this area was not being met when we inspected the service and we have taken enforcement action.